Former Dallas Cowboy Kurt Vollers pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges that he conspired to distribute more than 100 kilos of high-quality "hydroponic" marijuana.
Vollers, 31, an offensive linesman for the Cowboys from 2002 to 2005, faces five to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine.
Vollers was arrested by police in June 2008 after a large amount of marijuana was seized in an Irving apartment rented by an associate. Investigators later found a black bag containing $380,000 in Vollers’ Coppell home, according to court documents.
In a sworn statement, Vollers admitted he and four other men, including his brother, distributed drugs from January 2006 to May 2008.
His brother, William Hans Vollers, was not charged in the case.
The other three men, John Patrick Newton, Scott Matthew Kirk and Tommy Don Crutcher, also have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on July 23 -- the same day as Kurt Vollers.
Newton ran the drug ring, according to court papers. Prosecutors referred to the group as the “Newton drug trafficking organization."
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
The Drug Enforcement Administration said one kilo of hydroponic marijuana sells for $20,000 to $30,000. Using those figures, 100 kilos would be worth $2 million to $3 million.
Vollers joined the Cowboys from the Indianapolis Colts. He played college football for Notre Dame.
Vollers' attorney, Rafael de la Garza, said his client is a "good guy who made a big mistake."
"He's accepted responsibility for it," de la Garza said. "He's doing what he can to make amens. At sentencing, we'll all learn how he got into this."
